Humphrey Gibbs
PC | |
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8th Governor of Southern Rhodesia[a] | |
In office 28 December 1959 – 11 November 1965[b] De jure: 28 December 1959 – 24 June 1969[c] | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | Sir Edgar Whitehead Winston Field Ian Smith |
Preceded by | Sir Peveril William-Powlett |
Succeeded by | De facto: Clifford Dupont (Acting Officer Administering the Government) De jure: Christopher Soames, Lord Soames (holding the reinstated office of Governor after 12 December 1979) |
Personal details | |
Born | London, England | 22 November 1902
Died | 5 November 1990 Harare, Zimbabwe | (aged 87)
Spouse |
Molly Gibbs (m. 1934) |
Residence(s) | Government House, Salisbury |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
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Sir Humphrey Vicary Gibbs,
Early history
Gibbs was born on 22 November 1902 in England, the third son of The Hon. Herbert Gibbs, later created, in 1923, The 1st Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon. He was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He moved to Southern Rhodesia in 1928, buying a farm at Nyamandhlovu, near Bulawayo.[1]
He became active in farming administration and helped found the National Farmers Union. He was elected to the
As Governor of Southern Rhodesia
In 1959, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Gibbs as Governor of Southern Rhodesia and appointed him a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1960.
The
By the time Smith and
However, Smith and his ministers simply ignored the dismissal, advising Gibbs that "in view of the new [Rhodesian] constitution..., he no longer has any executive powers in Rhodesia"—and therefore, his power to sack them no longer existed.[3][4]
Under siege
Several high-ranking officers of the Rhodesian military went to Governor Gibbs earlier in the day, made a statement of loyalty to him, and asked Gibbs to issue a warrant so that they could arrest Smith and Dupont. However, Gibbs knew that the bulk of the officer corps, as well as the rank and file of the Rhodesian military, were solidly behind Smith's government and that such a move would lead to a coup d'état.
Gibbs announced that despite the UDI, he had no intention of resigning his office or leaving Rhodesia, and that therefore, he would remain in Government House in Salisbury as the sole legal representative of Queen Elizabeth II.[5] With few exceptions, the international community continued to recognise him as the Queen's sole legitimate representative in the area—and thus, the only lawful authority in what London maintained was still the colony of Southern Rhodesia.[6]
In response, Smith declared that Government House was only "temporarily occupied" by Gibbs "in a personal capacity", and would be occupied by Dupont once it became available.[3] This action led to four years of harassment and petty afflictions by the Rhodesian government, resulting in making Gibbs and his wife virtually prisoners in Government House, by cutting off his telephone, electricity and water.[7]
It also took away his ceremonial guard and official cars, and sent him bills for the rent of Government House, which he refused to pay.[8] However, his supporters set up a Governor's Fund to pay for the upkeep of the building, and with the assistance of a small staff, led by John Pestell, he managed to remain defiant.[9]
While Gibbs continued to occupy Government House, Dupont and his wife held official receptions at Governor's Lodge in the Salisbury suburb of Highlands.[10] This had previously been used by Gibbs when Southern Rhodesia was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.[11] During this time, Government House had been the residence of the Governor-General of the Federation.[12]
In 1967, on the second anniversary of UDI, Gibbs declared that his visitors' book would be open to all those who wished to show their loyalty to The Queen, while Dupont, in response, announced that the visitors' book at his office, on the same street, would be open to all those who wished to show their support for UDI.[13]
In June 1969, Gibbs resigned after Smith's government held and won a
Gibbs died in Harare on 5 November 1990, with his funeral held at the Cathedral of St Mary and All Saints, Harare.[15][16] In 2004 a memorial to Gibbs by Lettering and Sculpture Limited was unveiled in St Paul's Cathedral in London.
Marriage
On 17 January 1934, Gibbs married Molly Peel Nelson (b. 13 July 1912,
Honours
Member of The Most Honourable Privy Council |
1969 | |
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) | 9 July 1969[19] | |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) | 18 November 1965[20] | |
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) | NY 1960[21] | |
Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) | NY 1960[17] | |
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE; Civil Division) | NY 1959[22] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | Coronation 1953 |
References
- The Glasgow Herald, 23 June 1969
- ^ Review: Humphrey Gibbs, Beleaguered Governor: Southern Rhodesia, 1929-69 by Alan Megahey, Michael Carver, The International History Review, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Sep., 1999), pp. 791-793
- ^ a b Bulletin, Volumes 3-4, Africa Institute of South Africa, 1965, pages 12-13
- ^ Rhodesian independence, (Interim history), Robert W. Peterson, Facts on File, 1971, page 34
- The Morning Record, 18 November 1965
- Gadsden Times, 11 March 1968
- ^ Sir Humphrey Gibbs; Britain's Last Governor of Rhodesia, Los Angeles Times, 11 November 1990
- ^ a b Queen's man resigns, The Age, 26 June 1969
- Daily Telegraph, 22 August 2005
- ^ East Africa and Rhodesia, Volume 42, Africana, 1965, pages 339, 464
- ^ Year Book and Guide of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, with Biographies, Rhodesian Publications, Limited, 1962, page 33
- ^ Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Newsletter, Issues 27-52,, 1960, page 428
- ^ Power and Pragmatism: The memoirs of Malcolm Rifkind, Malcolm Rifkind, Biteback Publishing, 2016
- ^ Humphrey Gibbs, Beleaguered Governor: Southern Rhodesia, 1929-69 by A. Megahey, 1998
- ^ Peterhouse Nostalgia Archived 19 September 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Humphrey Gibbs, 87, of Rhodesia And a Foe of White Rebels, Dies, The New York Times, 8 November 1990
- ^ a b "No. 41930". The London Gazette. 15 January 1960. p. 444.
- ^ "No. 44922". The London Gazette. 22 August 1969. p. 8663.
- ^ "No. 44894". The London Gazette. 11 July 1969. p. 7213.
- ^ "No. 43824". The London Gazette. 26 November 1965. p. 11065.
- ^ "No. 41909". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1959. p. 4.
- ^ "No. 41589". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1958. p. 22.